What it Means to Be a Travelpreneur

Do you know what a travelpreneur is? A travelpreneur (traveler + entrepreneur) is someone who manages a location-independent working lifestyle so that they can travel with ease.

They manage to blend the thrill of exploring the world with the excitement of running their own business. Easy to define, much harder to live.

Starting a business is hard enough as it is, but while travelling as well, whew! Believe it or not, there are plenty of people, old and young of all professions out there that make it work.

Being a travelpreneur is more than just a fancy Instagram bio. It’s about living a life packed full of adventure, while still hustling hard to grow your business. Imagine working on your latest project while sipping a cappuccino in a quaint cafe in Paris, or brainstorming your next big idea while lounging on a beach in Bali. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

However, like anything in life, being a travelpreneur has its ups and downs. On the one hand, you’ve got the freedom to work from anywhere (hello, beach office!), you get to experience new cultures, and you’re never tied down to one place. But on the flip side, you have to deal with all the challenges that come from that lifestyle as well. Some of those challenges include: staying productive while on the move, dealing with different time zones, unpredictable finances, and sometimes feeling a bit isolated.

The key here is balance. And for a deeper dive into this, check out my article on slowmading. It captures the importance of taking it slow and steady, not rushing your travels or your work, but finding a pace that suits you.

What’s cool is that there are countless successful travelpreneurs out there, showing us that it’s absolutely possible to have the best of both worlds. You might not have heard of them because they’re too busy living their dream life, exploring the globe, and running their successful online businesses. For example, meet three travelpreneurs doing just that:

Meet Terri, the globe-trotting accountant. Before embarking on her travelpreneur journey, Terri spent years in a traditional accounting firm, crunching numbers from 9 to 5. However, she realized that her work could easily be done remotely and decided to take the plunge. Now, she consults for small businesses around the world, helping them navigate their finances while she navigates the globe. Last month, she was balancing spreadsheets from a lakeside cabin in Canada, and this month, she’s advising clients on tax strategies from a bustling cafe in Tokyo.

Next up is Colby, the nomadic illustrator. Colby always had a knack for creating stunning visuals and a desire to see the world. He decided to combine these passions by starting his own graphic design business. His clients love his creative designs and his unique perspective, influenced by the various cultures and places he experiences. One week, he’s drawing inspiration from the vibrant street art in Berlin, and the next, he’s incorporating the serene beauty of Bali’s landscapes into his designs.

And then there’s Dominic, the travelling tutor. Dominic has always had a passion for education and a thirst for adventure. He found a way to merge these two passions by offering online tutoring sessions in mathematics. His students hail from every corner of the globe, and they love his interactive and engaging teaching style. Plus, they get a kick out of guessing where in the world Dominic is during each session. Whether he’s breaking down algebra problems from a cozy cafe in London or conducting a calculus lesson from a beach house in Australia, Dominic is a testament to the power and potential of the travelpreneur lifestyle.

But you may be wondering, what does it take to be a successful travelpreneur? What skills do you need? What kind of business should you start? And how do you balance travel with work?

By far, the most important attribute of every successful travelpreneur I’ve seen all have tremendous amounts of self-discipline. When you’re your own boss and your office might be a beach or a bustling city square, it can be very easy to blow off work or slack off most of the day. I firmly believe this is why many people can’t make self-employement work (to say nothing of being a travelpreneur), because that ability to give themselves goals and have the discipline to get them done isn’t always there. Some people just need a boss with a W2, no shame in it.

Time management is another big one in my book. Juggling client calls from different time zones, meeting deadlines while on the move, and carving out time to actually enjoy your travels can be a tall order. And then there’s adaptability. Can you switch gears quickly? Handle a last-minute change of plans? Adapt to a new culture or language? These are literally day-to-day requirements of the job, so making sure you have the right temperament for this lifestyle is critical.

When you combine everything, it amounts to a person with extreme flexibility and go-with-the-flow attitude, as well as the discipline to get the work done that they need to.

Now let’s talk business. What kind of business should you start as a travelpreneur? The good news is, there are plenty of options. Freelancing, digital marketing, e-commerce, online tutoring – the list is endless. The trick is to find something that you’re passionate about and that you can do remotely.

Take Terri, Colby, and Dominic, for example. They’ve each found their own niche that aligns with their skills and interests, and they’ve built their businesses around it. Terri uses her accounting expertise to help other businesses, Colby leverages his graphic design skills to create stunning visuals, and Dominic uses his love for teaching to educate students around the globe.

And if you’re thinking, “But I don’t have a tech-related skill,” don’t worry. There are plenty of non-tech remote jobs out there. The key is to think about what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and how you can offer it as a service or product.

Alright, you’ve got the skills, you’ve chosen your business, now what? Well, now comes the planning part. Before you pack your bags and hit the road, you need to do some serious planning.

First up is financial planning. Travelpreneuring isn’t a vacation. It’s a lifestyle, and it needs to be financially sustainable. So, how much do you need to earn to maintain your lifestyle? How will you keep track of budgeting for travel and living expenses? Have you factored in costs like health insurance, taxes, and business expenses? These are all important considerations.

Next is work-travel balance. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new places and forget about work, or conversely, to get so absorbed in work that you forget to enjoy your surroundings. To help with this, consider creating a work-from-home routine, even if “home” is constantly changing!

And let’s not forget about practical considerations. What kind of visa do you need? How will you handle healthcare while on the road? What about insurance for your gear? It’s not the most exciting part of the process, but trust me, it’s crucial.

It might seem overwhelming now, but once you start planning and organizing, things will fall into place. And remember, every step you take brings you closer to living your dream as a travelpreneur.

Alright, let’s talk challenges. Because let’s face it, as exciting as the travelpreneur lifestyle can be, it’s not without its hurdles. But don’t worry, with a little bit of planning and a lot of resilience, you can overcome them.

First up, isolation and loneliness. When you’re hopping from one place to another, maintaining social connections can be tricky. But thanks to technology, it’s never been easier to stay connected. Regular video calls with friends and family, joining online communities of other digital nomads, and making an effort to meet locals or other travelers can go a long way.

Staying productive while travelling can also be a challenge. Different time zones, unreliable internet connections, and new distractions can all disrupt your workflow. But with some clever planning and self-discipline, you can stay on top of your game. Plus, check out this article on how to manage digital burnout while working remotely. It’s packed with useful tips and strategies.

Beneficial networking is another item that can easily get marginalized if you let it. No matter your industry, it will be important to network and build your own skills to be a successful travelpreneur.

And then there’s the challenge of cultural differences and language barriers. But hey, isn’t that part of the fun? Learning a new language, trying new foods, adapting to a new way of life – these are all part of the rich tapestry of the travelpreneur lifestyle.

Your travelpreneur lifestyle basically guarantees that your laptop and a reliable internet connection will be your best friends. But there are plenty of other tools that can make your life easier. Project management apps, communication tools, financial tracking software – these can all help you stay organized and connected.

And don’t forget about the physical tools. A portable laptop desk can turn any place into an office, and a good backpack can make carrying your gear a lot easier.

As for resources, there are tons of online communities, blogs, and courses that can help you on your travelpreneur journey. So, never stop learning, never stop exploring, and never stop reaching out to others in the community.

So, where is this all heading? Well, if the current trends are anything to go by, the future of travelpreneurship looks bright. More and more people are realizing that they don’t have to be tied to a desk to do meaningful work. And as technology continues to evolve, it’s becoming easier than ever to work from anywhere in the world. In a practical sense, travelpreneurship has become a very popular way to accelerate the otherwise long path towards retirement or semi-retirement. If you chose the right countries, you can save massive amounts of money during your travels.

Sure, there will be challenges. Things like internet connectivity, legal issues around remote work, and environmental impact are all things we’ll need to address. But with every challenge comes an opportunity for innovation and growth.

And let’s not forget about the personal growth that comes with being a travelpreneur. The experiences you’ll have, the people you’ll meet, the skills you’ll develop – these are things that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Embarking on the travelpreneur journey is an adventure like no other. It’s a unique blend of the thrills of travel and the excitement of running your own business. As we’ve discussed, it requires certain skills, careful planning, and a knack for overcoming challenges. But the rewards – the freedom, the experiences, the personal and professional growth – make it all worthwhile.

The future belongs to those who dare to dream, those who dare to venture into the unknown, and those who dare to live life on their own terms.